Bonus Period4
1
A bonus period comprises only days falling on or after 7th April 1997 on which—
a
the applicant or, where the applicant has a partner, her partner is entitled to, or is treated as entitled to a qualifying benefit whether it is payable or not;
b
the applicant has residing with her a qualifying child; and
c
child maintenance is either—
i
taken into account in determining the amount of the applicant’s income for the purposes of the qualifying benefit; or
ii
retained by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 74A(3) of the Social Security Administration Act 19929.
2
Any two or more bonus periods separated by any one connected period shall be treated as one bonus period
3
For the purposes of these Regulations, “a connected period” is—
a
any period of not more than 12 weeks falling between two bonus periods to which paragraph (1) refers;
b
any period of not more than 12 weeks throughout which—
i
no qualifying child resides with the applicant; or
ii
the applicant ceases to be entitled to a qualifying benefit on becoming one of a couple and the couple fail to satisfy the conditions of entitlement to a qualifying benefit; or
c
any period throughout which maternity allowance is payable to the applicant; or
d
any period of not more than 2 years throughout which incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or invalid care allowance is payable to the applicant.
4
In calculating any period for the purposes of paragraph (3) no regard shall be had to any day which falls before 7th April 1997.
5
Bonus periods separated by two or more connected periods shall not link to form a single bonus period but shall instead remain separate bonus periods.
6
Where a qualifying child is temporarily absent for a period not exceeding 12 weeks from the home he shares with the applicant, the applicant shall be treated as satisfying the requirements of paragraph (1)(b) throughout that absence.
7
A bonus period which would, but for this paragraph, have continued shall end—
a
where the applicant or, where the applicant has a partner, her partner, satisfies the work condition and claims a bonus, on the last day of entitlement to a qualifying benefit to which any award made on that claim applies; or
b
where the person with the care of the child or her partner dies, on the date of death.